So a few more rides provided a bit more insight into how this bike works and what its strengths / weaknesses are. Yesterday was pretty tired and not really feeling it, but convinced myself that even a boring YT ride was better than no ride at all. 2 hours later I'm seeking out new trails, going exploring and taking the long way home....
Long story short I'm pretty stunned. Given current limitations I've been pedalling this mostly around mellow singletrack that'd be doable on a clapped out hardtail and it's been simply awesome. This makes very little sense to me. Given its purpose it should feel a bit bored or inert but it's amazingly lively and responsive, more so than the Mojo it's replacing by some margin. A bike with 480mm chainstays (at sag) feeling more energetic and active than a product from the fusion of mastery that is Dave Weagle and Ibis? You read it here first.
It feels a bit perverse really, like the bike's size actually works for you rather than against you. Corners are great fun, traction is supreme, climbing is an out of saddle mashfest. The stability is sensational, really encouraging brake pad conservation and moar speed. Yet the pace and acceleration is nutso too, even more so considering its got big, heavy 2.6s and I'm running 18psi front, 20 rear. Yes it does tire me out more, but it's fatigue felt at the end of the ride rather than that collapse in enthusiasm that can be felt on some big bikes where it starts feeling like you're pedalling through treacle.
Also the 38s are so sensitive they'll almost have you convinced they're not complete overkill too.
Obviously take all this with a healthy pinch of New Bike Stoke likely diluting any issues, but currently this thing seems pretty much flawless.
